Microprocessor controlled fault indicator having high visibility LED fault indication
First Claim
1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, comprising:
- a housing;
a battery;
a fault sensor for sensing the occurrence of a fault on said electrical conductor;
a plurality of light emitting diodes operable from said battery and viewable from the exterior of the housing; and
a microprocessor in communication with said fault sensor to determine when a fault has occurred on said electrical conductor, to enable the supply of power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes upon determining that a fault has occurred, to cease enabling power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes at a predetermined time after determining that a fault occurred and to reset said fault indicator around said predetermined time;
said microprocessor enabling the supply of power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes with pulse width modulated signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor has a housing, a high capacity battery, a plurality of emitting diodes (LEDs) visible from the exterior of the fault indicator upon the occurrence of a fault, and electronic circuitry for sensing a fault, for actuating the LEDs to indicate a fault and to provide a timed reset of the LEDs to a non-fault indicating condition a predetermined time after the fault has occurred. The electronic circuitry, including a microprocessor that is normally in a sleep mode, conserves energy by drawing insubstantial current from a high capacity battery during non-fault conditions. Preferably, the microprocessor controls activation of the fault indicating LEDs with pulse width modulated (PWM) signals during defined time intervals for improved visibility. Visibility is further improved where the PWM signals for the indicator LEDs are interleaved in time to provide a highly distinctive flicker effect. Alternately, if the PWM signal for one LED quickly follows the PWM signal for the other LED, the LED indicators provide a highly distinctive strobe effect.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, comprising:
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a housing; a battery; a fault sensor for sensing the occurrence of a fault on said electrical conductor; a plurality of light emitting diodes operable from said battery and viewable from the exterior of the housing; and a microprocessor in communication with said fault sensor to determine when a fault has occurred on said electrical conductor, to enable the supply of power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes upon determining that a fault has occurred, to cease enabling power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes at a predetermined time after determining that a fault occurred and to reset said fault indicator around said predetermined time; said microprocessor enabling the supply of power from said battery to said plurality of light emitting diodes with pulse width modulated signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, comprising:
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a housing; a battery; a fault sensor for sensing the occurrence of a fault on said electrical conductor; a plurality of indicators capable of being illuminated by power from said battery and viewable from the exterior of the housing; and a microprocessor in communication with said fault sensor to determine when a fault has occurred on said electrical conductor, to enable power from said battery to said plurality of indicators upon determining that a fault has occurred, to cease enabling power from said battery to said plurality of indicators at a predetermined time after determining that a fault occurred and to reset said fault indicator around the predetermined time after determining that a fault occurred; said microprocessor enabling the supply of power from said battery to said plurality of indicators with pulse width modulated signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification